Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Expanded dataset of measurements to be used in evaluating consequences for flight control and stability induced by attachment of bio-logging devices to birds and bats

July 30, 2024

Bio-logging is central to study of wildlife, but questions remain about minimization of effects from bio-logging devices. Rarely considered are changes bio-logging devices induce on an animal’s center of mass (COM) and resulting losses of flight control and stability. In a related paper (Katzner and Young 2024), we applied established aeronautical principles to estimate how the COM of a flying bird or bat may be affected by typical positioning of a bio-logging device on the neck, back, hips, or tail. We then adopted modified thresholds from aerospace engineering to estimate limits beyond which changes to COM result in fitness-relevant alterations to flight control and stability. Here we provide measurements for other species, beyond the seven reported in Katzner and Young (2024).

The comma-separated values (.csv) file below holds static data values. The Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) file holds dynamic formulae into which a user may enter their own data.

Katzner, T.E. and Young, G.P., 2024, A heuristic method to evaluate consequences for flight control and stability induced by attachment of bio-logging devices to birds and bats. In review.

Publication Year 2024
Title Expanded dataset of measurements to be used in evaluating consequences for flight control and stability induced by attachment of bio-logging devices to birds and bats
DOI 10.5066/P13SIMMI
Authors Anna (Contractor) L Connington, Hannah (Contractor) M Rudd, Todd E Katzner
Product Type Data Release
Record Source USGS Digital Object Identifier Catalog
USGS Organization Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC) Headquarters